Wrongful Death Suit Filed in Drunk Driving Case

The parents of a Santa Barbara woman who died from being hit by a congresswoman's aide’s car filed a wrongful death suit against Raymond Morua, U.S. Rep. Lois Capps and the U.S. government. Matt and Raeona Dies' attorney Robert Stoll claims that the Democratic congresswoman hired the aide, who drove the vehicle that killed 27-year-old Mallory Dies, despite being aware of his two DUI convictions and failed to monitor him.

The suit said that Morua was required to drive as part of his job. Court records show he has two prior DUI arrests, a hit-and-run and an embezzlement conviction. Morua pleaded guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and fleeing the scene of the crime after hitting Dies in downtown Santa Barbara on Dec. 6.

The lawsuit also claims that Morua was working for Capps that night. Capps, who represents San Luis Obispo County, said that the woman's death was a tragedy but insisted that Morua was not working for her the night of the crash. Stoll says Dies’s parents dealt with hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills and they want to get some of their expenses paid. Morua faces up to 20 years in prison.